Parents who send their children to private schools are “taking a chance” with
their education, says Nick Clegg

State schools should not be granted the same freedoms as those enjoyed by independent schools, the Deputy Prime Minister said, because parents can choose to send their children there.

Mr Clegg has opened a rift within the coalition by criticising Michael Gove’s decision to let his flagship free schools hire teachers who lack teaching qualifications.

Such qualifications are not required by many fee-paying schools.

“If you pay your fees you take your chances. The idea that in the schools system, for which Governments are responsible supported by all taxpayers – which is far, far bigger than the smaller number of schools, where parents pay the fees and take their chances, that you don’t have a duty of care – that we don’t a duty of care towards parents and children with some basic standards, I cannot for the life of me understand.”

Mr Gove insists headteachers of free schools and academies must have the freedom to employ untrained teachers in the same way private schools “hire the great linguists, scientists, engineers and other specialists they know can best teach and inspire their pupils.”

“I think most parents listening to this programme would think it is a totally standard suggestion, hardly revolutionary, that in a profession which is as important as teaching that teachers should be qualified or seeking qualification while they are teaching.”

Asked whether Mr Clegg’s intervention had caused a ‘Coalition crisis’, he said: “I’m perfectly entitled to talk without being shouted down about my vision of the future of the schools system.”